ANTHRACITE RIDGE SIGN-ON LETTER!
This is to acknowledge those chapters able to take action and respond to the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Anthracite Ridge “sign-on” letter. Our letter was one of many submitted to the Hegins Township Zoning Hearing Board in advance of their meeting on November 23, 2021. The Township is considering an application for an Industrial wind farm proposed for construction in the Township and neighboring municipalities in Schuylkill County. The site is located just west of Hawk Mountain and the Kittatiny Ridge. The Kittatiny Ridge is an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Global Significance and a major migratory pathway for raptors. Our letter cited the need for significant studies to be undertaken in advance of any approvals for the project to proceed. Our letter included the support of fourteen of our Pennsylvania Audubon chapters. We know that the very short time line for response precluded the opportunity for several of our chapters to secure the authority to add their names to the letter.
Hawk Mountain’s Laurie Goodrich attended the January 23rd Hegins Township Zoning Hearing Board Meeting. Laurie reported that attorneys dominated the meeting. She noted that less than ten minutes was set-aside on the agenda for public comment. Laurie did note that the letters were formally included as part of the meeting record. The local newspaper reported that the Zoning Hearing Board’s action on the application is expected on January 11, 2022. We will provide an update later in January.
Please find the links to three different Anthracite Ridge Letters:
